8eight Sushi Pop-up@Brothers Sushi Santa Monica ★★★

Incredible. Absolutely love it. Excellent quality sushi and skills. Brings me back memories of Japan. Pop-up omakase at Brothers Sushi once a month by Ryo-san from Sushi Sho Japan. $280 per person. Add-ons available. Bento boxes order available. Available for private chef hire at your venue. Follow Ryo-san's Instagram for the next pop-up and bento pickup. [developing story]

Otoro Sushi

Ohmine 3 Grain from Fifth Taste $100

Akami, Chu-Toro, Otoro

Octopus w/ Sweet Sauce

Crab Miso w/ Jelly

Japanese Rock Fish

Signature Ankimo

Akami (Tuna Lean Part) Sushi

Chu-Toro Sushi

Sayori

White Shrimp

Kohada

Kawahagi (Filefish)

Saba

Nodoguro

Anago

Soup

Uni

Pickled Vegetables

Picked Ginger

Suntory Premium Malt's $10

Tamago

Sushi add-on

Noah/ Enzo Roll

Noah/ Enzo Roll

Noah/ Enzo Roll (add-on)

8eight LA
Pop-up at Brothers Sushi Santa Monica (monthly)
https://8eightla.com

Wadatsumi Torrance@Torrance ★★★

New Favorite. Ordered seasonal special Kagoshima Fair items. Fresh ingredients. Reasonably priced. Will come back regularly. Last order 8:30pm. Miyagi White Rice $2. Brown Rice $3. Complimentary hot tea. Free parking in lot.

Seasonal Special: Hokkaido Shirako Ponzu $12

Kagoshima Fair Special: Shabu Shabu Wagyu Beef Seiro Mushi 4oz $35
lightly steamed w/ vegetables

Kagoshima Fair Special: Buri (Yellowtail) Sashimi $18

Kagoshima Fair Special: Wild Shrimp Karaage $8

Wadatsumi Torrance
1757 W Carson St Ste R&S
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 782-7356
wadatsumi-tr.com

Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden@Torrance ★★★

Japanese Comfort Fast Food with Homemade Udon & Soba from Inaba. Affordable Japanese comfort fast food. I basically came up with a secret menu with their add-ons based on a limited edition soba I had in Ikebukuro in 2008. Cold Tororo Soba with Mentai and Onsen Tamago add-ons (served on the side). Fast food self-seating with complimentary self-served iced tea, hot tea, and water. Return tray by the cashier when done. Free street parking and parking in rear.

Cold Tororo Soba $14, add Mentai +$3, add Onsen Tamago +$3 (served on the side)

Cold Tororo Soba $14, add Mentai +$3, add Onsen Tamago +$3 (served on the side)

Hot Unagi Udon $19

Tempura $7

Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden
1618 Cravens Ave
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 328-1323
www.ichimiann.com

Gokumi x Heiwa Sake Event@Santa Ana ★★★

Amazing Heiwa Sake Event. Features most Heiwa sake from $5/glass. Heiwa Kid Winter Shiboritate Seasonal Sake was great. Fantastic with Yakitori. Reasonable price. Thrilled to see Heiwa Shuzo team from Japan there. Got the pleasure to meet Yamamoto-san, President of Heiwa, again. Yakitori Chef Ryo-san is amazing and very dedicated. Great place to dine around Disneyland area. Free Edamame (can choose truffle oil if available) upon Yelp check-in. Great to balance the meat with vegetables. Complimentary hot tea. Limited free parking in lot. [developing story]

Shibata-san (Producer from Heiwa), Yamamoto-san (President of Heiwa), Yumiko-san (Sake Suki)
Masa-san (Heiwa US Ambassador), Shota-san (Fifth Taste), Takagi-san (Brewer from Heiwa)

Muryozan Junmai Ginjo $15/glass (discounted event price)

Spicy Tuna Shiso Tempura $9

Heiwa Kid Winter Shiboritate Seasonal Sake $5 (originally $14)

Chicken Skin $3.50, Chicken Tail (Special) $4, American Wagyu Tongue $7.50, Pork w/ Sprout $3.75

Chicken Wing $4.50, Chicken Skin $3.50, Ginko Nuts $2.50, Shrimp $5.50, American Wagyu Tongue $7.50, Pork w/ Sprout $3.75

Edamame with Truffle Oil (Free w/ Yelp Check-In)

Oyster $4

Muryozan Junmai Ginjo $15/glass (discounted event price)

Zucchini $3, Thigh w/ Onions $3.50, Pork Belly w/ Plum Shiso $4

Oyster $4, Scallop $3.50

Chicken Wing $4.50, Shrimp $5.50, Shiitake Mushroom $3, Chicken Meatball $3.75

Gokumi
2 Hutton Centre Dr, #203
Santa Ana, CA 92707​
(714) 617-4540
https://gokumi.us

Kura x Snoopy Collaboration@Sawtelle ★★★

Snoopy Collaboration at the Revolving Sushi Bar. Capsules to collect at $3.70 each. All plates $3.70. They raised their price from $3.55 per plate to $3.70 recently. Free set of 3 Snoopy cups with $70 spent (before tax, equivalent to 19 plates) Jan 3-7, while supplies last. Sushi quality was decent this time. Sawtelle location has better quality later in the night (after 8) vs. earlier in the evening. Tuna Zuke Sushi is always my favorite. Download their app and to wait in the virtual queue. Free 1 hour validated parking at lot.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
2130 Sawtelle Blvd
Unit 111
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 597-4490
https://kurasushi.com

Furaibo 風来坊@Sawtelle ★

Long-Standing Cozy Japanese Restaurant since My College Time. Good food and reasonable pricing. Features Chicken Wings & Yakitori. Okra is always my favorite. Ishikari Nabe is always great with the tasty soup base, especially in the cold winter. Unagi is probably from China and had too much sauce on top. Walk-in ok. Will come back again. Sapporo pitcher $18.50 (good deal). Hot tea is complimentary. Limited free parking in rear.

Nagoya Hot Wings $9.75
spicy sweet chicken wings

Okura (Okra) $4 (1 skewer)

Miso Soup for Dinner Box

K. Unagi Dinner Box $26.95
Broiled Fresh Water Eel Topped w/ Unagi Sauce
includes salad, rice, miso soup, Japanese pickles, stewed potato w/ meat & vegetables, pork cutlet, shrimp cooked in shell

Ishikari Nabe $14.50
Japanese miso broth with salmon, shrimp, scallop, tofu, enoki mushrooms, nappa cabbage

Furaibo Restaurant
2068 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 444-1432
furaibousa.com

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa@Manhattan Beach ★★

Nice Mexican Restaurant with Seafood & Vegan Options. Interesting cocktail menu. Service was slow when it got busy. Limited metered parking at lot or street around the block.

Playa Shrimp Taquitos $26
fresno aioli, jalapeño creama, queso fresco

Complimentary Torilla

Tacos de Halibut Frito $21
chipotle aioli, garlic mojo, gucamole, queso fresco

Guacamole Trío $19
pineapple, elote & puerco chicharron, plantain chips

Kids Quesadilla $9 (add 6oz Chicken Breast add $8)

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa
309 Manhattan Beach Blvd
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(424) 422-0057
esperanzamb.com